Press Release: 6/23/2025

AG Campbell Submits Multistate Comment Letters Opposing the Department of Energy's Attempt to Dismantle Anti-Discrimination Regulations

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

6/20/2025

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Kennedy Sims, Deputy Press Secretary

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Call Kennedy Sims, Deputy Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543

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Email Kennedy Sims, Deputy Press Secretary at Kennedy.Sims@mass.gov

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell submitted four joint comment letters yesterday afternoon in conjunction with 20 state attorneys general from across the country, in opposition to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s proposals to roll back regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These regulations are critical to protecting Massachusetts residents against various forms of discrimination, including those based on sex, disability, race, and national origin. In the comment letters, the coalition highlights how these unlawful regulations would unravel decades of civil rights progress and rip away Americans’ most fundamental rights and freedoms.  

Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 have long served as the bedrock of equity and access in education, healthcare, housing, and other federally funded programs. These laws ensure that all Americans have an equal opportunity to access and participate in federally funded programs and activities and that federal funds are not used to subsidize discrimination. The Trump administration’s decision to weaken the regulations strips away decades of protections and government accountability.  

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy proposed sweeping rollbacks, where they improperly used a direct final rule, also known as the DFR process, which creates a shortened 30-day period for public comment, and puts the new rule into effect after 60 days unless “significant adverse comments” are received. These rollbacks would eliminate the Department’s regulatory standards that prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, and disability in federally funded programs and buildings – including repealing Section 504 requirement that new or altered DOE facilities constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a recipient of DOE comply with federal accessibility standards. Additionally, the DOE has failed – as required under the Administrative Procedure Act – to provide sufficient evidence that this rulemaking is evidence-based and is not arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to constitutional rights.  

In today’s comment letters, the coalition of attorneys general write that:  

• Without implementing regulations under Title VI and Title IX, the Department of Energy and recipients of federal funding would lose key tools for investigating and stopping race, national origin, and sex-based discrimination in federally funded programs and activities. 


• Repealing Section 504 regulations would eliminate federal requirements for accessible design in buildings constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a recipient of funding from the Dept. of Energy, making it difficult for individuals with disabilities to access schools, labs, and energy facilities. 


• Rolling back these regulations violate the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires federal agencies to inform the public about proposed rules and to provide concerned residents the opportunity to comment on proposed rules.  

Joining AG Campbell in submitting the multi-state comment letters are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. AG Campbell co-led the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act letter with the attorneys general of California and New York.